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Create the look of marble at a fraction of the cost with a faux-finishing technique. Choose your colors based on the type of marble you wish to recreate, such as white, black and gray for a basic white marble or a tan, pink and white combination for a different variation. Use faux marbling techniques to create a "fantasy" marble, using unnatural marble colors such as indigo or deep green.

1

Cover the work area with newspaper. Set the project piece atop the paper, or, if you're painting on a large object or a wall, set the paper on the ground up against the area being painted.

2

Sand the project surface with a fine-grit sandpaper to scuff up the existing finish a little. Wipe away the dust with a soft cloth. Sanding makes the surface more receptive to paint. If you're painting a wall, wipe down the wall with a dustcloth or feather duster instead.

3

Cover all areas you wish to protect with painter's tape.

4

Open and stir the primer and pour some of it into a paint tray. Brush the primer over the project surface and allow it to dry completely. Apply a second coat if the original surface is visible through the primer, allowing it to dry as well.

5

Open and stir the base marble color, pouring it into a paint tray. Brush the paint over the entire project surface and allow it to dry.

6

Mix a glaze in a disposable container using a second marble color and half as much latex glaze; for instance, make a slightly gray glaze for white marble by mixing white latex paint with glaze and just a little black paint.

7

Dip a sea sponge into the glaze mixture and blot it over the base-coated project to create bands of color. Feather the wet color bands a bit with a dry paintbrush or feathering brush; this makes the marble look more natural. Create a few optional narrower color bands by dipping a paintbrush into the glaze and dragging it sideways in a slightly wavy line over the project.

8

Pour a bit of the marble vein color into a disposable container and 1/3 or 1/4 as much glaze, stirring them together. Dip the tip of a feather or a fine artist's brush into the glaze and drag it lightly across the faux marble finish in squiggly, uneven lines. The veining may be done while the previous paint layer is wet or dry; if done while wet, the veins will blend in a bit more, but extra care is needed not to rest your hand on the wet paint.

Things You Will Need

Newspaper

Fine-grit sandpaper

Soft cloth

Dustcloth or feather duster

Painter's tape

Latex primer

Paint stirrer

Paint tray

Paintbrush

Latex paint in base marble color and one or 2 more shades

Clear latex glaze

Sea sponge

Feathering brush

Artist's brush or feather

Tips

If painting the faux marble finish on plastic, first use a plastic primer to ensure the paint adheres properly.

Practice your marbling technique on scrap cardboard to get a feel for how it all comes together. The more you've practiced, the more confident you will be and the more realistic the end result.

About the Author

Kathy Adams is an award-winning journalist and freelance writer who traveled the world handling numerous duties for music artists. She writes travel and budgeting tips and destination guides for USA Today, Travelocity and ForRent, among others. She enjoys exploring foreign locales and hiking off the beaten path stateside, snapping pics of wildlife and nature instead of selfies.